374 MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON [^I"'- 4, 



Baird, B. of N. Am. p. 770 (1858) (Texas) ; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 

 1860, p. 197 (K. Truando) ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 360 ; Scl. & Salv. 

 Ibis, 1859, p. 231 ; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 315 (Lake Yojoa) ; Scl. & 

 Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, pp. 299 (partim) & 372 (Panama), et Nomencl. 

 p. 129; Lawr. Ami. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 13 (Panama), et ix. p. 143 

 (Costa Rica); Mem, Bost. Soc. ISJ. H, ii. p. 3 13 (Mazatlan) ; Salv. 

 Ibis, 1865, p. 193. 



Capitis laterihus et gutture cinereis, hoc albicantiore, colli postici 

 linea mediali brunnescenti-nigra ; pileo (^versus nucham obscu- 

 riore), collo inferiore et corpore toto antico cum dorso medio et 

 scapularibus Icete castaneo-brunneis, peciore paulfo dilutiore ; 

 dorso postico, ventre toto et cauda nigris, ventre imo et tibiis 

 albo variegatis, crissofere albo ; alis nigris, tectricibiis alarum 

 minoribus internis ochracescentibus, mediis catiis, e.vternis albis ; 

 remigibus (extimo excepto) inpogonio externo et remigiim tectri- 

 cibus lactescenti-albidis ; rostro rubro, ungue nigro ; pedibus 

 Jlavis : long, tota 16*0, alee 8"5, caiidce 2'8, tarsi 2'0, dig. med. 

 cum ungue 2'6, rostri a ricta 2'0 (Descr. maiis ex Panama in 

 Mus. S. & G.). 

 Hab. Mexico (Grai/son) ; Guatemala (Sa/ye«) ; Honduras (Tay- 

 lor) ; Costa Rica (Arce) ; Panama {3I'Leannan). 



Latham's description of his Anas autummalis was based upon 

 Edwards's plate 194; and upon reference to this figure we feel no 

 doubt that a specimen of the Central-American form of this Duck 

 was the subject of Edwards's drawing. Moreover Edwards says, in 

 the text of his work, that his specimen was brought from the West 

 Indies. 



The birds described by Baird from the Rio Grande, on the Texan 

 frontier, evidently agree with Central-American examples ; but Baird 

 seems to have had specimens of the South- American form also before 

 him when writing his notes on this species in the ' Birds of North 

 America.' He attributes the greyness of the lower neck and breast 

 in a South-American specimen to greater maturity — a view whicii can 

 hardly be maintained, seeing that this peculiarity is found, so far as 

 our experience goes, only in examples from the southern part of 

 America. 



In Central America this species is only found in the hottest part 

 of the country and in the lagoons near the sea-coast, especially in 

 those whicli lie in such abundance along the Pacific coast of Guate- 

 mala. During Salvin's stay there in 1863 he not unfrequently saw 

 small flocks of this Duck, and also obtained specimens. In Honduras 

 Mr. Taylor found this Tree-Duck abundant on Lake Yojoa. From 

 Costa Rica we have an example collected by Arce on the Gulf of 

 Nicoya ; and at Panama, whence we also have a specimen, it is not 

 uncommon. M'Leannan had a pair of this species alive when Salvin 

 stayed at his Station at Lion Hill. 



The bird found on the Truando by Lieut. Michler's party probably 

 belongs to this race ; but we cannot speak with certainty on this 

 point. It may also extend its range along the west coast as far as 



